Press Releases

SPIRIT OF GIVING ALIVE AT THE EMSB

MONTREAL, NOVEMBER 22, 2010– In preparation for the holidays, the English Montreal School Board (EMSB) is teaming up with CTV and the Canadian Armed Forces to take on its annual “Spirit of Giving” campaign, which brings much needed assistance to the less fortunate throughout Montreal. Vince Lacroce, Spiritual Community Animator, coordinates this project along with the help of the Spiritual Community Animation Service.

From December 1 to17, non-perishable food items, clothing and toys will be collected, sorted and donated to Dans la Rue, Share the Warmth, West Island Assistance Fund, Renaissance, Multicaf, N.D.G. Bank and the Park Extension Share Store. In all, the combined efforts of the EMSB, its schools and facilities will hopefully generate over 600 boxes of non-perishable food, and over 40,000 items of clothes and toys.

Thirty-three schools and centres will take part in the campaign. Donations can be brought to the High School of Montreal Adult Centre downtown; Galileo Adult Centre, Gerald McShane Elementary and Lester B. Pearson High School in Montreal North; Rosemount Technology Centre, Rosemount High School and Vincent Massey Collegiate in Rosemount; St John Bosco in Ville Émard; St. Dorothy in St. Michel; Dalkeith Elementary and the Almage Senior Community Centre in Anjou; Edward Murphy School in the Hochelaga-Maisonneuve; Hampstead Elementary; St. Monica and Willingdon Elementary in N.D.G.; Dunrae Gardens in the Town of Mont-Royal; LaurenHill Academy in St. Laurent; Elizabeth Ballantyne in Montreal West; Sinclair Laird in Park Extension; Leonardo Da Vinci Academy, East Hill Elementary, Michelangelo Elementary and Cité Des Prairies in Riviere-des-Prairies; Mountainview School in Cote St. Luc; John Caboto and Our Lady of Pompei in Ahuntsic; and Honoré Mercier, Pierre de Coubertin, General Vanier Elementary, Laurier Macdonald High School, Laurier Macdonald Adult Centre, John Paul I, Leonardo Da Vinci Center and Dante Elementary in St. Leonard.

Transporting the donations to the collection centre at Laurier Macdonald High School will be the Canadian Armed forces, led by Master Corporal Marco Mastantuono and Master Corporal Steven Busby,and members of Canadian Grenadier Guards. Students from Laurier Macdonald will also be volunteering to sort through the items once they are delivered. Many of the participating EMSB schools will also be organizing a series of events set to encourage donations. Schools will also be featured on both the CTV mid-day and nightly news from December 6 to 14. “I wish to thank everyone for their generous contribution to the EMSB’s largest collaborative holiday drive,” said Mr. Lacroce.